From Long Island to Renaissance Island

“It was the best day of our lives,”shared bride Christine Castiello. The Long Island resident and her groom, Raymond Sanicola, knew they wanted to get married on a beautiful beach at sunset. Ultimately, they chose Aruba as the locale for their destination wedding, “because the beaches are absolutely beautiful, the food is always amazing, and the people are just lovely,”Christine explained.

Aruba boasts a variety of beaches, each unique in setting and ambiance. The privacy of Renaissance Islandreally appealed to the couple as the venue for both the ceremony and reception.

The lush, tropical setting of the evironment lent so much visually to the event that there was no stress when it came to décor.

Christine went with a palette of aqua and grey to harmonize with the natural beauty of the island, adding little beach-inspired touches like seashell holders for the table numbers and accenting the wedding cake with seashells and starfish.

For her dress, Christine wanted something more formal than what is often seen at beach weddings.

“My dress was designed by Maggie Sottero and had lots of beading and details…it looked beautiful with the sun setting and the beading shimmering…I took layers out of my train so it was see-through on the sand,”she explained.

Buffet stations featured a lavish seafood display with crab claws, gulf shrimp, and steamed mussels and oysters on the half shell; an international fruit and cheese display; an antipasta station; sushi and sashimi station; carving station with roasted prime rib; a market-style fresh salad bar and artisan breads and spreads; lobster bisque, and an entrée station with baby lamb racks, grilled filet mignon, broiled Caribbean lobster tails, and a selection of side dishes.

“My guests raved about the food,” said Christine.

NOTES FROM THE BRIDE:

"Planning a destination wedding can sometimes be stressful being so far away, but the vendors and wedding planners in Aruba made it so easy and stress free. They answered emails and phone calls very quickly. They made the wedding of my dreams into reality. We wouldn't have changed anything…it was the best day of our lives!"

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What our brides are saying

I am so thankful we had the opportunity to get married in Aruba and that so many of our friends
and family made the trip there with us. I have always had a special love for Aruba,
but now it is an even more meaningful and special place to me and my husband.